LinkPatrol

As someone who is involved in blogging and all things related to it, you probably come across a lot of information from various sources. This would normally be a good thing, but the problem is that not all the information that comes your way is accurate or up-to-date. As with virtually everything related to the Web, there are a lot of misconceptions out there surrounding blogs and blogging. There are also plenty of lesser-known bits of information that can affect the performance of your blog and your day-to-day activities as a blogger. I therefore thought it was a good idea to share some of these trade secrets in the hope of clearing up some confusion you may have.

Secret #1: A guest blog post is a team effort If you are accustomed to blogging by yourself, one thing that might surprise you about guest blog posts is that it takes at least two people to accomplish. This means you will usually have to work with one other person and in some cases, even 2 or 3 others. Most sites will also have a content manager that you will to get approval from, but it is the site owner who usually has the last word. Guest blog posting really is a team effort, and you will have to learn to work in a team setting. In such a scenario, effective communication and flexibility are essential skills to have.

Secret #2: Research is a must with guest blog posts Research is an especially important aspect of guest blogging. If it is your first time to guest blog, you will first have to determine the niches you will want to write in. After that, you will have to look for blogs in those niches. The next step is to figure out what type of content attracts the most comments. Of course, you also have to make sure that the content you post will be similar in tone and quality to the posts on the site.

Secret #3: Tracking your guest blog posts is a good thing After you have started networking and have gotten your name out there, start up a record of all your guest blog posts. This will come in handy when you want to expand, and it will also allow you to reference your previous work if necessary. A record of your posts will also help keep you organized and let you know important details such as when certain posts are live and when you need to make a comment or promote your posts.

Secret #4: There is no magic formula for guest blog posts There is no set of methods or a magic formula that will allow you to create perfect guest blog posts or help you accomplish your goals 100%. Sure there are clear cut rules, policies, and “must-do’s” when it comes to guest blog posts, but that’s not quite the same as a magic formula. You simply can’t break it down to a formula such as: epic blog post + A list blog = tons of traffic. The reality is that it will not always work that way for everyone. Think about it this way: if there was a magic formula for guest blog posting, everyone would likely use that same method, eventually making it worthless. As it is, the only really surefire way to success is through hard work, trial and error, and a continuous effort to improve.

Secret #5: You need to have a strategy before you begin guest posting. The “shotgun” approach simply doesn’t work with guest blog posting. You will have to come up with a specific strategy and have a clear-cut plan in place before you actually start. This will also help you stay focused on your objective and increase your chances of achieving your goals. If you are really serious about guest blog posting, you simply must have a well-defined plan of attack.

Secret #6: Your work isn’t done just because your guest blog post has been accepted Quite the contrary. In fact, in some ways, the real work begins after your guest blog post has been accepted. If you really want to become a successful guest blogger, you will have to put in the work in order to make the experience as beneficial as possible for everyone concerned. After the post has gone live, you will have to be proactive in terms of actively commenting on the blog, promoting it on your email list, and announcing it through social media channels. Don’t forget to write a “thank you” note to your host as well!

Secret #7: Guest blog posts work hand-in-hand with social media Social media is a highly effective tool for helping you get in touch with a network of like-minded bloggers. You can use for it anything from following and retweeting posts to commenting on Facebook pages, or even posting something from your own blog. Social media also provides a great way to break the ice and let other bloggers know who you are. In fact, social media can help you start communication with other bloggers, helping you avoid the awkwardness of asking for a guest blog post. Social media will also help you promote your post once it’s published.

Secret #8: An eye-catching title can really sell a guest blog post First impressions count when making a blog post, and making a good impression is often dependent on the title of your post. When pitching your guest blog post, you must have a catchy headline that makes people want to click on the post and read the rest of the article. Many site owners will actually use the title as the sole basis for accepting or rejecting a guest blog post. You might only have one chance at making a good impression, so make it count!

Secret #9: Building a solid portfolio requires a broad range of sites I always hear of people starting off by targeting just the high-profile bloggers, most of whom are recognized authorities in a niche, or host blogs with high rankings. Although you do want to connect with these bloggers eventually, don’t underestimate the value of smaller blogs at the start of your career. Posting in such blogs will help you learn the ropes of guest blog posting and are great for building your portfolio. Most established bloggers won’t even consider hosting your guest blog post unless you have a respectable portfolio so get started with a few small blogs first!

Secret #10: A guest blog post is not a cure-all Guest blog posts by themselves can be effective, but you really need to go beyond that. Guest blog posts alone won’t increase traffic to your site, raise your visitor count, or add to your sales. Of course, guest blog posts can help you build traffic, establish backlinks, and possibly even attract visitors to your blog. Just like everything else however, it would be more beneficial to adopt a balanced approach. It is when you implement guest blog posts as part of your overall plan of attack that you will see its full potential.

Secret #11: Content is the driving force behind guest blog posts When it comes to guest blog posts, the importance of content simply cannot be overestimated. You could have a quick pitch, but if your content is worth reading, many blogs will be happy to post it. Of course, coming up with good content is an ongoing process, and you will have to constantly figure out what sticks out and attracts readers. Don’t neglect the benefits of outsourcing your writing either. In some cases, this might help you generate new content or out a fresh spin on a familiar topic.

Secret #12: Never submit guest blog posts out of the blue I would say that 95% of the time, searching for someone online and getting in touch with them out of the blue won’t get you a response. “Cold submitting” to relevant sites is a common mistake that many newbies make, and it often leads to rejection and disappointment.

This is a great question and thanks for asking. Here are some of my suggestions to go about doing this. I always lean towards the idea of its always better to give than to receive.

With that mindset I always try to leave blog comments, follow on twitter, sign up for the newsletter, and leave some link love. This is a great way to interact with the blogger than just dropping an unsolicited email.

I hope that help getting you thinking more creatively,

Eric

P.S. don’t forget about all the other community sites out there to connect and interact with other bloggers.

Great post Eric! You have almost covered everything about guest blogging, the ultimate link building technique. Guest posts certainly helps a brand get high quality relevant backlinks, brand visibility across multiple sites, and referral traffic. Google authorship markup is a must for guest post on any site.

Thanks so much and I feel as if you have hit all the major points. It’s a no brainer to start a guest blogging campaign today! As long as your following the above information and continue to it the right way.

Some good stuff here. I am just entering into the blogging arena; have two posts written for my own blog but haven’t finished implementing the blog code on my site yet! So here is my question. You mention that there are community sites out there for bloggers. Can you suggest one or two for do it yourself SEO bloggers?

@Nathan try this: myblogguest.com This is a platform where many bloggers are asking for guest posts and you can contribute there.

@Eric Guest posts is not dead and this is quite relevant even in this stiff competitive digital marketing world. But the way you have explained, high value (in terms of link and traffic) is only possible if say someone is doing guest blogging over different renowned platforms say SEW, SEJ etc. It requires lot of research and subject understanding over the topic. But when an agency is focused to build links for her clients, she needs to think either link campaign (for the large) and link building (for the SMBs). Common guest blogging platforms are extremely helpful in offering such quick links as I have mentioned above. And you might need extreme support from the content creation team.